The ongoing hostilities-despite Trump’s announcement and a nominal ceasefire that began in April-are deepening displacement for Lebanon’s conflict-weary population. They also are a significant sticking point in negotiations to extend a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war in Iran, as the Islamic Republic wants any such deal to end fighting in Lebanon, too. Two semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported Tuesday that the country cut off communication with mediators facilitating the ceasefire talks.
Another round of talks between Israel and Lebanon began Tuesday in Washington, where Lebanese negotiators will seek a full ceasefire that will prevent future attacks. The talks began in April and were the first in more than three decades between the countries, which have no formal diplomatic relations. Hezbollah has rejected direct talks, counting on pressure from Iran.
The talks come days after Israeli ground troops made their in 26 years and Israel then threatened to strike Beirut’s southern suburbs, causing panic in the Lebanese capital as thousands fled.Trump said Monday he’d spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had communicated with Hezbollah through mediators, and that no troops would be “going to Beirut.” But the intensity of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah continued.
Trump’s Iran gamble gets riskier as a new player enters the room
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israel previously refrained from attacking Beirut out of deference for negotiations between the US and Iran. But he said Netanyahu informed Trump late on Monday that Israel will attack Beirut’s southern suburbs if Hezbollah continues targeting northern Israel, echoing comments from the prime minister the previous day.
An Israeli drone strike hit a car on the road linking the southern town of Marjayoun with the city of Nabatiyeh, killing James Karam, a dentist from the nearby Christian town of Qlayaa, along with his daughter and son, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Tuesday.The ceasefires in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran are stretching the term’s meaning
The Lebanese army said two soldiers were lightly wounded when a separate drone targeted them on a road outside the city.
Drone strikes killed two Syrians working at a plant nursery in the village of Jibchit and two people in the nearby village of Toul, the news agency reported. A third strike hit a car near the village of Harouf, killing one person. The Israeli military said it wasn’t aware of any Israeli strikes in that area.
NNA also reported that an Israeli airstrike on Monday killed six in the southern village of Marwaniyeh.
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